Richartz homers twice as ‘Bows pound Waves

Hawaii went on the offensive in its first road game of the season.

Jordan Richartz hit two of UH’s three home runs and drove in a career-high five as the Rainbow Warriors pounded Pepperdine 15-8 to open a four-game series at Eddy D. Field Stadium in Malibu, Calif.

Eric Ramirez added two hits and four RBIs for Hawaii (5-5), which won its first road game of the season for the first time since 2009.

Richartz became the first UH player with two homers in a game since Collin Bennett in 2012 against Sacramento State, and the three home runs by UH were the most since March 13, 2011 against Portland.

Hawaii has homered six times in four games. Just two years ago, UH hit four home runs all season.

Both teams committed three errors.

"It wasn’t a pretty game but you don’t get style points. It’s just about outscoring the opponent," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. "We got down early but our bats exploded and then we were able to separate."

Hawaii trailed 5-2 when Alan Baldwin led off the top of the sixth with the first home run of his career. UH scored seven runs in the inning as Ramirez gave UH the lead with a two-run single and Richartz followed with a three-run blast to left to make it 9-5.

Hawaii added five more runs in the eighth, with the scoring ending on Richartz’s two-run homer to left.

"He’s capable of doing that," Trapasso said of Richartz. "He sure came through today. He’s been focusing on being more aggressive to the fastball and coach (Carl Fraticelli) has been working with him on having a little better rhythm and being on time so he can show up for the fastball and he really did that today."

Hawaii finished with 13 hits and won its first game in three years when giving up eight runs.

Outfielder Matt LoCoco set a school record when he was hit by a pitch three different times in the same game. UH was hit six times total.

Junior Tyler Brashears (2-1) gave up five runs (three earned) on eight hits in five innings with no walks and four strikeouts. He threw only 71 pitches but came out after sitting on the bench for nearly 30 minutes as UH sent 12 runners to the plate in the sixth.

"I was actually trying to decide, to be honest," Trapasso said about making a pitching change. "Then once we took the lead I just went with (Matt) Valencia.

"Tyler wasn’t very sharp and struggled when he was up in the zone. We’ve got to get to work on his changeup because right now everything he throws is firm and hitters are able to time it."

Pepperdine reliever Michael Fierri (0-1) recorded only one out and gave up four runs on three hits to take the loss for the Waves (4-5).

Catcher Chayce Ka’aua drove in Hawaii’s first run with a single in the second inning and is hitting .714 (5-for-7) with two doubles and five RBIs with runners in scoring position this season.

Freshman J.J. Kitaoka came off the bench to replace Stephen Ventimilia in the seventh inning and went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Ventimilia twisted his knee at the plate scoring in the previous inning and will likely miss at least one game, if not more.

"When he came around and scored he got his spike caught on the corner of the plate and did a face plant," Trapasso said. "He’s limping around pretty good so I imagine he won’t play (Friday)."

Outfielder Kaeo Aliviado had his homer streak snapped at three games but singled and scored twice to extend his hitting streak to six.

Valencia, Cody Culp and Eric Gleese finished off the game for the ‘Bows, who have won 11 of the 15 meetings all-time against the Waves.

UH didn’t get to the team hotel until midnight last night after its flight was delayed from Honolulu.

"We showed no ill effects," Trapasso said. "We played with great energy. I was real happy with the effort."

Pepperdine senior Kolten Yamaguchi, a Konawaena alumnus, made his third start at catcher and went 0-for-5.

Freshman Bo Coolen, son of UH softball coach Bob, worked a scoreless ninth inning allowing only one walk in his collegiate debut.

The series continues Friday at noon.

E—Ventimilia, Sheldon-Collins, Ka‘aua, Bernard, Fornaci, Jefferson. DP—Hawaii 1. Pepperdine 1. LOB—Hawaii 13, Pepperdine 8. 2B—Richartz, Fornaci, Jefferson. 3B—Caruso. HR—Richartz (2),?Baldwin. HBP—Aliviado, Ka‘aua 2, LoCoco 3. SF—Sheldon-Collins, Ramirez. SB—Moyer. 

Gamboa pitched to 3 batters in the 6th.

Valencia pitched to 3 batters in the 7th.

WP—Valencia, Culp, Dunn. HBP—by Gamboa (LoCoco); Gamboa (by LoCoco), by Gamboa (Ka‘aua),  by Gamboa (LoCoco); by Perri (Aliviado), by Qsar (Ka‘aua). BK—Culp. PB—Yamaguchi.

Umpires—(Plate): Billy Haze. (First): Greg Charles. (Third): Brian Marine. T—3:18. A—191.